GEORGE TOWN: Wesak Day is back in full force after three years of low-key celebrations, with devotees thronging various temples and places of worship to offer their prayers.

At the Penang Buddhist Association (PBA) in Jalan Anson, devotees made a beeline to bathe the Baby Buddha while thousands more converged within its premises to participate in the rituals.

Among them were 53-year-old N. Sivaguru and his family who are continuing the tradition he first started practising over 30 years ago.

“I started following my father to celebrate Wesak Day here when I was 19. During the movement control order, we skipped it for three years – otherwise we would never have missed it.

Annual ritual: Devotees (above and below) bathing the Baby Buddha in Kuching and Johor Baru as part of the Wesak Day celebrations. — ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE and THOMAS YONG/ The Star

“Today, I am blessed with a wife and four children, aged 20 to 14, and we will continue to be thankful for our blessings,” he said yesterday.

Sivaguru, who is a cleaner with the local council, said he prayed for the family’s well-being and hopes to be relieved from hardship in life.

“I prayed for all difficulties in life to be alleviated and that the family stay healthy and together always,” he added.

Many devotees still donned face masks to protect themselves against Covid-19.

Schoolteacher Lim Huat Bee, 46, who brought along her two daughters to PBA, said it was better to wear the masks than be sorry later.

“We know Covid-19 is still around and since it is crowded, we just wish to stay protected.

“This year, we are praying for Covid-19 to be over and everybody to recover from illness and economic constraints that struck them during the pandemic,” she said.

Checks found a majority of devotees had their face masks on at various locations.

At the launch of the Wesak Day float at PBA, the association’s president, Chan Seong Lok, said they were glad to reopen the celebration to the public after a lapse of three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Colourful procession: The Wesak Day float passing through the streets in Melaka.

“Wesak Day has always been a special occasion to Buddhists all over the world, as a special day to commemorate the birth, the supreme enlightenment and the attainment of Mahaparinirvana of the Lord Buddha.

“It is also a festival for rejoicing and an occasion for us to reflect on our personal spiritual development,” he said during the ceremony under a large bodhi tree at the association’s premises.

Activities were held throughout the day, including a food fair and chanting services before culminating with a float procession in the evening.

The 7km long procession, which started at about 6.30pm, saw participation from 25 organisations from the island and mainland.

The floats took off from the Malaysian Buddhist Association (MBA) building in Jalan Burma and passed through Jalan Pangkor, Jalan Kelawai, Lorong Burma, Jalan Perak, Lebuhraya Peel, Jalan Macalister, Jalan Anson and Lorong Madras before returning to the association building about four hours later.

It was estimated that some 20,000 people had gathered along the roads to watch the procession.